On The Bench
Chris Devine's Mandolin Project.
The "Hand carving" of the top is one of the enjoyable tasks
of this build.
Originally, I was thinking I'd make a flat back Mandolin.
This would have been the simplest solution but it may not have worked as well with the arched top.
Once I had decided to go with an arched top, it made sense to go with a similar shape for the back plate.
I thought a vaulted back would be an interesting look for this instrument while also providing the arched
shape for the back.
By the way, these are book matched strips of quilted, birds-eye
maple with alternating strips of Bubinga (African Rosewood). It should look killer under finish!
I pre-bend each strip starting with the middle with water and heat,
then glued and
clamped them edge to edge until I had the whole back valt shape.
I found I had to sand the edges a bit so they joined
cleanly .
Here is the Valt back, trimmed and rough sanded ready
to be fine tuned to maximize its sonic potencial.
Fitting the back will require some contouring of the rim before
gluing liners on.
Pencil lead stuck in the side of a stick of spruce.
One of many tools made for a specific task.
The pencil lines give me a reference for shaving the rim
before gluing on the liners.
More to come!
E-mail Wade
